“Run it up, Herman…Leave no doubt!”
– Coach Yoast, in “Remember The Titans”
I love this movie, and I particularly love this scene.
The referees are throwing the game so that Coach Boone, the African – American coach of the Titans won’t have a perfect season. Coach Yoast (played by Will Patton), a former member of the good ol’ boys club that held these thoughts back in Virginia, circa 1971, and a hall-of-fame candidate coach who’d been replaced by Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) realizes that his principles matter more to him than the Hall of Fame.
“Remember The Titans” was on cable Monday night. (One of the main reasons I love cable TV is that I can see about 80% of the movies I love several times a month…but I digress…) As I focus on re-energizing and building a team during the day, it was a nice evening reminder that it can be done. And swagger helps get it done faster. “Run it up, Herman,” no doubt.
Frequently, in my workaday life, I am reminded of the movie. I am reminded of what happens when a team really comes together. I am reminded of the long-lasting benefits of placing principle over recognition and compensation. I am reminded that competition may have less-than-altruistic intent. I am reminded that we have a chance to “leave no doubt.” Often, we have some ground to make up, but we have the chance to make a permanent imprint on our profession. And, we will.
Regardless of where we’re trying to make a difference, we need to step up and challenge ourselves to do what others might not think can be done. What others say can not be done.
There’s another great line, shortly after this scene in the movie, where Coach Boone says, “It’s our time!”
It is. Now. Let’s run it up!
P.S. Happy 6th birthday to Harley, the world’s largest Labradoodle, on Wednesday. Hey, he’s my dog and it’s my blog…
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